Israel is facing international outrage after carrying out two strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Monday. The attacks killed at least 20 people, including five journalists, four medical workers, and first responders who rushed to aid victims of the initial strike. The Palestinian Ministry of Health condemned the back-to-back assaults as “double-tap” strikes designed to inflict maximum harm.
Among the journalists killed were Mohammad Salama of Al Jazeera, Reuters contractor Hussam Al-Masri, Associated Press contributor Mariam Abu Dagga, and freelancers Moath Abu Taha and Ahmed Abu Aziz. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported losing one crew member, while medical staff from Nasser Hospital were also killed. The strikes targeted a hospital balcony often used by journalists for reporting.
Eyewitness Footage Shows Chaos As Israel Admits Hospital Strikes Killing Journalists, Medics
Eyewitness footage captured the chaos as explosions rocked the hospital. Video showed Dr. Mohammad Saqer, a hospital spokesman, displaying blood-soaked cloths when a second blast forced people to flee. Other footage revealed emergency workers on a staircase struck during the second attack, the same spot where Reuters’ Al-Masri had been photographed working a month earlier.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted responsibility for the strike, claiming it targeted a camera on the hospital roof allegedly used by Hamas. An Israeli security official said authorization was given for a drone strike, but tank shells were fired instead—first at the camera, then at rescue teams. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that journalists and medics were killed, calling it a “tragic mishap” while pledging an investigation.
Journalist organizations described the incident as one of the deadliest Israeli attacks on media workers since the war began, calling it a “watershed moment.” The UN strongly condemned the killings, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging full protection for journalists and medical staff. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini accused Israel of silencing the last reporters documenting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Global Outrage Grows As Israel Accused Of War Crimes, Targeting Journalists Deliberately
Governments, including Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, denounced the strikes. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate labeled the attack a “heinous massacre” against the press, while Doctors Without Borders condemned Israel for hitting Gaza’s only partially functioning southern hospital. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) accused Israel of unlawful killings and possible war crimes.
Tributes poured in for Mariam Abu Dagga, remembered for her courageous reporting on Gaza’s starving children, and Hussam Al-Masri, who died working from his usual camera spot at the hospital. News organizations, including AP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera, expressed grief and outrage, with Al Jazeera calling the strikes “a horrific crime” that violated international law and amounted to war crimes under the Geneva Conventions.
The killings follow earlier Israeli strikes that killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif and several colleagues. Hamas accused Israel of targeting journalists to suppress coverage of war crimes. According to CPJ, Israel had already killed 192 journalists since the start of the Gaza war. Despite mounting pressure, Israeli leaders continue to justify operations as necessary against Hamas, while international bodies call for accountability and an impartial investigation.
